The Price of Magic Read online

  The sorceress bent down and brushed the dust off of her father’s marker. The Great Wizard Bassington 1862-1907.

  “I told you I’d visit you whenever I visited Graham.”

  “And you do that a lot,” said Baxter.

  “Don’t be jealous. It’s not at all sexy.”

  “Put me down by Uncle Peter,” said Sen.

  Baxter lowered the little girl to the ground. She lay on the grass beside the recently piled dirt.

  Senta looked down at the new grave marker. Peter Sallow Bassington 1893-1914 A Good Wizard.

  “I think he would have liked it,” said Baxter.

  “Yes, he would.” agreed Senta. “Come along. Let’s go home.”

  “Can we talk about our business then?” wondered Bessemer.

  “That’s all you want to do anymore,” said Senta. “It’s all BB&C this and BB&C that. I’m sure that Bessemer, Bly, and Company will continue chugging along just fine without any input from me.”

  “You all go on home,” said Baxter. “I’m going to visit an old friend.”

  Senta kissed him on the lips and then started for the trolley stop. Bessemer reached down and scooped up Sen, placing her on his shoulders, and followed after her.

  “You sure you don’t want company?” asked Zoey, looking up at Baxter.

  “Not right now, but I’ll see you at home.”

  The dragon shot into the sky so quickly, it was as if she simply disappeared.

  Baxter walked slowly across the green grass to the obelisk that marked the grave of Radley Staff. He stood looking at it for several minutes.

  “I somehow thought we’d end up being old men together, watching our grandchildren play,” he said. “But I guess we’re not the sort to die old. At least you went peacefully.”

  Finally, he walked to the border of the cemetery, and sat down on one of the park benches on the pathway that marked the boundary between the solemn ground and the city park. He pulled out his cigarette case, opening it to remove a cigarette and a wooden match. He struck the match on the arm of the bench and lit the cigarette, blowing out a cloud of smoke.

  As he sat, he noticed a shabby man walking down the path toward him. When he was still fifty feet away, he turned and made his way across the lawn toward the small brick building that housed a public privy. Baxter watched as the fellow disappeared around the corner of the little structure. Taking another puff of his cigarette, he got up and strolled in the direction the man had taken. When he reached the corner of the privy, he could see the man a dozen feet beyond, sitting with his back against a tree. He was rubbing white liquid from a tiny blue bottle into his eyes.

  Baxter leaned against the cool bricks and took another puff.

  “Where are you?” the man cried out, but then repeated the query in a whisper. “Where are you?”

  Baxter took a last puff, and then tossed the cigarette down, mashing it into the grass with the toe of his shoes. Then he turned and walked away. He had gone no more than three steps, when he heard the shabby man break out in a peal of cackling laughter.

  “There you are, my love”

  The End

  About the Author

  Wesley Allison is the author of more than twenty science fiction and fantasy books, including the popular His Robot Girlfriend. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Master of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. He has taught English and American History for the past 21 years in southern Nevada where he lives with his lovely wife Victoria, his two grown children Rebecca and John.

  For more information about the author and upcoming books:

  Visit the City of Amathar Blog at http://wesleyallison.com

  Visit the Author Wesley Allison page on Facebook.

   Books by Wesley Allison

  Look for them wherever fine ebooks are sold. Paper editions are available at the City of Amathar Blog and by special order from your favorite bookseller.

  Princess of Amathar

  Transported to the artificial world of Ecos, Earth man Alexander Ashton struggles to understand the society of his new friends the Amatharians. As he does so, he finds himself falling in love with their princess and being thrust into a millennium-long war with their mortal foes the reptilian Zoasians. Princess of Amathar is a sword-swinging novel of high adventure.

  His Robot Girlfriend

  Mike Smith's life was crap, living all alone, years after his wife had died and his children had grown up and moved away. Then he saw the commercial for the Daffodil. Far more than other robots, the Daffodil could become anything and everything he wanted it to be. Mike's life is about to change.

  His Robot Wife

  In His Robot Wife, the novella-length sequel to His Robot Girlfriend, it is the year 2037 and Mike has been married to his robot wife, Patience, for five years. Troubles are on the horizon though. Prop 22 promises to annul marriages between humans and robots. And Patience hasn’t quite been herself. Is there something wrong, or does she just need a software upgrade?

  His Robot Wife: Patience is a Virtue

  It is the year 2037, when men are men and robots are cute. Patience, the robot wife, has a new friend– Wanda. Wanda, another Daffodil, has been having difficulty bonding with her human, the recently divorced Ryan. She hopes that with Patience’s mentoring, she’ll be able to help Ryan accept her into his troubled life. But even Patience isn’t prepared for what happens when they take a joint vacation cruise to Antarctica. His Robot Wife: Patience is a Virtue is a science fiction story in a world where technology is more than just a pretty face.

  His Robot Girlfriend: Charity

  Robotics engineer Dakota Hawk has problems. His life is falling apart. And even he doesn’t know why he bought a used, and seemingly non-functional, Daffodil Nonne. When your life turns to crap, which should you worry about more– your past or your future? How easy is it really to remake yourself and start over? And will having your own robot girlfriend help or make things even more difficult?

  Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Elven Princess

  Eaglethorpe Buxton, famed adventurer and story-teller, friend to those in need of a friend and guardian to those in need of a guardian. He is a liar and braggart, not to be trusted, especially around pies. Who are we to believe? Buxton himself leads us through his world as he comes to the aid of… a poor orphan? An elven princess? Who can guess with Eaglethorpe himself telling the tale?

  Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Sorceress

  Eaglethorpe Buxton, famed adventurer and story-teller is back, this time to put on a play about a sorceress. When the sorceress, subject of his play arrives with fire in her eyes, Eaglethorpe must pretend to be his good friend Ellwood. Will he pull off this charade and survive? And what happens when the real Ellwood shows up? One can never tell, especially when Eaglethorpe tells the story.

  The Many Adventures of Eaglethorpe Buxton

  Eaglethorpe Buxton, famed adventurer and story-teller, friend to those in need of a friend and guardian to those in need of a guardian. He is a liar and braggart, not to be trusted, especially around pies. Who are we to believe? Buxton himself leads us through his world in The Many Adventures of Eaglethorpe Buxton, which include the two previously published tales and three all new adventures.

  Brechalon (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 0)

  Brechalon is the novella-length prequel to The Voyage of the Minotaur and the books that follow in the story of Senta and the Steel Dragon. Meet the people who will change a world-- the Dechantagnes, wealthy siblings from a disgraced aristocratic family who plot their revenge; the imprisoned sorceress Zurfina; and Senta, the orphan girl who will one day rise to great fame and power.

  The Voyage of the Minotaur (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 1)

  In a world of steam power and rifles, where magic has not yet been forgotten, an expedition sets out to establish a colony in a lost world. The Voyage of the Minotaur is a story of adventure and magic, religion and prejudice, ste
am engines and dinosaurs, angels and lizardmen, machine guns and wizards, sorceresses, bustles and corsets, steam-powered computers, hot air balloons, and dragons.

  The Dark and Forbidding Land (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 2)

  Two years have passed since Senta, the sorceress Zurfina, and Bessemer the steel dragon arrived in the strange land of Birmisia. Now it is up to the settlers to build a home in this dark and forbidding land, ruled by terrifying dinosaurs and strange lizardmen. Ten year old Senta must discover which is the greater threat, a would-be wizard or the ever-increasing presence of the tyrannosaurus.

  The Drache Girl (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 3)

  More than three years have passed since the colonists arrived in Birmisia, and Port Dechantagne is a thriving colony, with the railway line almost complete. Twelve year old sorceress's apprentice Senta Bly, Police Constable Saba Colbshallow, and former maid Yuah Dechantagne must deal with wizards, prejudice, steam carriages, boys riding dinosaurs, and the mysterious activities of the lizardmen.

  The Young Sorceress (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 4)

  Everyone in Port Dechantagne seems to have an agenda of their own, from mysterious sorceress Zurfina, to agents from the enemy nation of Freedonia, to the kings and witchdoctors of the mysterious lizardmen. On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, sorceress’s apprentice Senta finds herself being pulled first one way and then the other. Will she actually have to split herself into four in order to deal with all her responsibilities?

  The Two Dragons (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 5)

  War has come the Birmisia. The newly settled colonists contemplate war on two fronts. The mysterious lizardmen from far away Tsahloose, led by their monstrous dragon god, threaten from the south. And from across the sea, the totalitarian kingdom of Freedonia threatens to invade their world with wizards and steam-powered war machines. Can even 17 year old Senta and her mistress Zurfina the Magnificent stop them?

  The Sorceress and her Lovers (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 6)

  It’s been three years since the war and the world has changed. Port Dechantagne, once a distant outpost of civilization, has grown to be a large city, the center of prosperous Birmisia Colony. Steam-powered carriages share the streets with triceratops-pulled trolleys, fine ladies in their most fashionable bustle dresses lead their lizardmen servants through the shopping districts, and an endless stream of immigrants pours into the region.

  Eleven year old Iolana Staff, daughter of the colonial governor, has important things on her mind, namely the mysterious Result Mechanism. Meanwhile, sorceress Senta Bly returns from the continent with a new male companion, an illegitimate daughter, and a long lost brother. Hated and feared for her magic, she must face wizards, assassins, and an old enemy from another reality.

  The Price of Magic (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 7)

  New powers are rising in Birmisia. Far to the south, the strange lizardmen of Xiatooq are making themselves known. Closer to home, the new lizzie city Yessonarah finds itself rich in gold—gold the humans covet. As tensions rise, many in Port Dechantagne seem eager to teach the lizzies a lesson in humility. Fourteen year old Iolana Staff finds herself in the center of it all, as she is pulled between her conscience and the conventions of society. Unconcerned with the conflict between human and lizzie, sorceress Senta Bly prepares for her own war, unaware that events will pull her into a life and death confrontation with an old enemy.

  Tesla’s Stepdaughters

  In a world where men are almost extinct, someone is trying to kill history's greatest rock & roll band. Science Police Agent John Andrews must negotiate a complicated relationship with Ep!phanee, the band's lead singer; drummer Ruth De Molay, bassist Steffie Sin, and the redheaded clone lead guitarist Penny Dreadful, as he protects them and tries to discover who wants to kill the Ladybugs.

  Women of Power

  The life of a superhero is tough. All American Girl fights supervillains, alien invaders, and terrorists as she tries to get product endorsements and a magazine deal. That's nothing compared to her private life though. She's only just broken up with her super boyfriend Perihelion when he's scooped up by Omega Woman, and now rival Skygirl has moved into her territory.

  Blood Trade

  Vegas is going to hell-- really. Werewolves run through the streets and the vampires are taking over. Former army ranger/Goth tattoo model/private eye Xochitl McKenna doesn't like it either, especially when it comes between her and her clients. But are the vampires and werewolves the greatest threat, or is it something or someone much closer to her? Warning: Adult Content.

  Astrid Maxxim and her Amazing Hoverbike

  From the 180,000 acre campus of Maxxim Industries, fourteen year old girl genius and inventor Astrid Maxxim works alongside her father, Dr. Roger Maxxim, on projects to make the world a better place. Her latest invention is a flying scooter—the hoverbike. Is it the target of an international spy ring, or are they after secret Project RG-7, or Astrid herself?

  Astrid Maxxim and her Undersea Dome

  Girl inventor Astrid Maxxim and her friends are back. This time Astrid is building an observation dome beneath the sea. Will she complete her amazing construction project, or will she be sidetracked by underwater monsters, the evil organization known as the Black Hand, or her snotty cousin Gloria?

  Astrid Maxxim and the Antarctic Expedition

  Teen inventor Astrid Maxxim is back in her third adventure as she makes a journey to the bottom of the planet to uncover the secrets of a mysterious lost expedition. Meanwhile, troubles plague her friends and family as a hostile takeover threatens Maxxim Industries. Join Astrid and her friends as she faces the frozen dangers of the Antarctic, wild animals, mad bombers, and corporate high finance.

  Astrid Maxxim and her Hypersonic Space Plane

  Everyone’s favorite girl inventor is back. The Maxxim space program is in full swing, ferrying supplies to the International Space Station, as Astrid perfects her ground-launched rocket plane. To finish it, she must first deal with Maxxim’s new automotive division, a terrifying vision of the future, and an English class essay, and her cousin Gloria coming for Thanksgiving.

  Desperate Poems

  Desperate Poems is a collection of seventy poems (some more desperate than others), written over a period of forty years about life, love, desire, being young, and growing old.